“Why did you marry Father?”
She gave a thin smile. “I liked the life he could offer me. And he liked my father’s title.” The coldness of her reply alarmed Audrey. She was about to ask what it felt like to fall in love when Miss Blake entered, interrupting their conversation.
“You asked to see me, Lady Rosamunde?”
“Audrey will be attending a tea on Thursday afternoon. Please make sure her wardrobe and her behavior are suitable.”
Fear slithered through Audrey. Her stomach rolled like a heavy, oiled ball. She thought of the shiny black beetles Eve had taught her to hold, and tried to summon the courage to face this new challenge.
“Of course, ma’am,” Miss Blake replied. “And are there any social events scheduled for tomorrow?”
“Mr. Clarkson and I have a dinner to attend in the evening, but Audrey won’t be going.”
“In that case, I wondered if Miss Audrey and I could tour London in the afternoon.”
“Not in this dreadful weather!”
“Only if the rain stops,” Miss Blake said. Audrey tried not to bounce on the chair with excitement at the prospect of seeing the city with Eve. She could keep her promise to take her to the Unknown Warrior’s tomb.
“Don’t tire her out,” Mother said. “I don’t want Audrey drooping like a wilted flower at her first tea—or worse, dissolving into hysterics. That will be all.”
Audrey and Miss Blake were dismissed. On her way upstairs, Audrey asked the butler to send Eve Dawson up to her room the moment she and the other servants arrived.
Eve bounded into Audrey’s room a few hours later, barely pausing for breath as she described her train trip and how huge the London train station was and how crowded the streets were. “I’ve never seen so many enormous buildings in my life!”
Audrey was bursting to tell Eve the news. “You’ll see even more of London tomorrow. I’m taking you to Westminster Abbey and the Unknown Warrior’s tomb.”
Eve backed up a step and sat down on the edge of Audrey’s bed. “Really? Am I really, truly going to see it?”
“Yes! My parents have dinner plans in the evening, so you’ll have the afternoon off from cooking. Miss Blake is going to take us.”
“I can’t believe it!”
Audrey eyed Eve’s baggy gray uniform and stained apron. “Do you have something nicer to wear than that?” she asked.
“Well . . . I have my Sunday dress . . .”
“I know! You can borrow one of my dresses!” Audrey bounced to her feet and flung open the doors to her wardrobe, where her dresses and jackets hung in tidy rows.
“If you think I should . . . I mean . . . if mine isn’t good enough . . .”
Audrey turned to her. Eve’s freckles stood out against her pink cheeks. “I’m so sorry, Eve. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. I only thought . . .” What had she thought? Fussing about her wardrobe was something Mother would do, and Audrey didn’t want to be like her. “I thought we would look like sisters if we dressed the same. And it’s such fun to dress up for special occasions. After Westminster, Miss Blake is taking us to see Buckingham Palace and then to Fortnum & Mason for tea.”
Eve managed a small smile. “I would like to look my best when I see the Unknown Warrior’s tomb.”
“Good. Then let’s see what fits you. I think we’re nearly the same size.” She pulled Eve to her feet and towed her to the open wardrobe.
“So many dresses! What do you need them all for?” Eve reached out to touch the clothes, then quickly snatched back her hand. But not before Audrey noticed her chapped skin and broken fingernails.
“I’ll be attending parties and teas where I’ll be seen—and hopefully noticed—by London’s finest families,” Audrey said. “It’s how people find marriage prospects for their sons. My brother, Alfie, says there’s already a mob of girls fluttering around him.”
“You mean, you’ll be on display to attract a husband? You’re only thirteen years old!”
“I know. It does seem silly.”
“I would feel like a piece of fruit on a street vendor’s cart.”
Now it was Audrey’s turn to feel embarrassed. She lowered her head for a moment, then drew a breath. “The point is, I have more dresses than I’ll ever need, and I would like to share one with you. Please, take your pick.” They sorted through Audrey’s wardrobe together until Eve chose a simple blue dress and matching jacket. Eve was the same height as Audrey, but more muscular with strong shoulders and sturdy legs from working in the kitchen and running errands. Audrey was annoyed to see that the dress looked better on Eve than it did on her spindly body.
The sun shone in a nearly cloudless sky the following afternoon as they climbed into the car with Williams and Miss Blake. Audrey felt as though she were seeing London for the very first time as she viewed it through Eve’s eyes—the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, the lumbering red buses, the boat traffic on the river Thames. Her friend’s enthusiasm was contagious. Audrey felt genuine joy as Eve gripped her hand and gazed through the car windows in wonder.
“Williams, stop!” Eve said suddenly. “I need to buy flowers for the warrior’s grave.” He pulled to the curb and Eve darted from the car, returning with a colorful bouquet from one of the vendors. A few minutes later, they got out by a small park across from Westminster Abbey. Eve stared up at the two enormous spires as if frozen in place. “It’s beautiful!” she murmured. “Like it’s made of lace!”
The inside was even more magnificent. A forest of pillars supported the soaring ceiling while light from above flooded the space. A towering stained-glass window sprinkled jewels at their feet. “I feel so small,” Audrey whispered.
“I know. This must be what heaven is like.”
Miss Blake led the way as they wandered through chapels and alcoves with ornately carved tombs and past the sepulchers of kings and queens who’d died centuries earlier. Eve grew somber as they walked through the vast, silent space, pausing to view the chancel and high altar, then turning to walk down the broad central aisle to the Unknown Warrior’s resting place. In the center of the aisle, a dark rectangle of stone lay flush with the abbey floor, marking the simple grave. Tears flowed down Eve’s face as she knelt to place the flowers on it. Audrey was only able to read some of the words engraved on the plaque before Eve’s flowers blocked the view:
BENEATH THIS STONE RESTS THE BODY
OF A BRITISH WARRIOR
UNKNOWN BY NAME OR RANK . . .
THUS ARE COMMEMORATED THE MANY
MULTITUDES WHO DURING THE GREAT
WAR OF 1914–1918 GAVE THE MOST THAT
MAN CAN GIVE, LIFE ITSELF . . .
THEY BURIED HIM AMONG THE KINGS BECAUSE HE
HAD DONE GOOD TOWARD GOD AND TOWARD
HIS HOUSE.
In the hush of the vast space, she heard Eve talking softly and leaned closer to listen. “I never got to meet you, Daddy, but your friends told me all about you. Mum loves you very much and I love you, too.” She rested her palm on the black stone. “Mum works very hard. And she still loves you, Daddy. Williams asked her to the cinema but Mum says she’ll never love anyone else.”